Stay Cool This Summer
l Run cool water over the inside of your wrists.
l If you live near some, drive up to the mountains. The higher you go, the cooler it gets.
l Drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day – more if you’re very active.
l Don’t exercise in the heat of the day – do it before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
l Set a bowl of ice water in front of a moving fan.
l Wear loose, light-colored natural-fiber clothing.
l Soak your feet in a plastic basin of cool (not cold) water.
l Hang out in your basement – it’s usually at least 10 degrees cooler than the upper floors.
l Wear your hair up or short – most heat escapes from the top of your head.
l Make your own portable evaporative cooler: wet down a white cotton towel and drape it around your neck.
l Open windows only in your room and the one opposite. Position a fan to blow from one window to the other to create a cross-draft.
l Shower or bathe regularly to keep your pores unclogged and efficiently sweating.
l Instead of incandescent light bulbs, which give off a lot of heat, use compact fluorescents.
l Keep blinds down on the side of the house the sun is shining on. Cover the windows with aluminum foil.
l Eat a Popsicle.
l Hang roll-up bamboo blinds outside the east and south windows.
l Wear a wide-brimmed, breathable hat when in the sun.
l Avoid dehydrating beverages like alcohol and caffeine.
l Eat lightly. Stay away from heavy, fatty foods and excessive protein (which aids heat production). Do eat salty foods to replace sodium lost from sweating.
l Use your backyard grill to stay out of a hot kitchen while cooking.
l Keep a spray bottle of water handy and mist yourself while sitting in front of a fan.
l Go shopping, to the library, movies, or a restaurant, and take advantage of someone else’s air conditioning.
l Unplug computers, TVs, and VCRs when not in use. Even turned off, these appliances generate a lot of heat.
l Drugstores sell sore-muscle rubs like Ben-Gay, which, when rubbed on pulse points, make you feel cool.
l Take a cool bath or shower – but not cold.
l Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
l Watch medications – some decrease perspiration and contribute to overheating.
l Lie down with a refrigerated face mask for a few minutes to refresh your whole body.
l Avoid the upper floors of your house – remember, heat rises.